How to be a Good Fly Fishing Client

In the same way there are good guides and bad guides, there are definitely good clients and bad clients on guided trips.

Being a good client is something to strive for. Apart from the fact that it's generally good to be on your best behavior when interacting with someone, it's also in your best interest to make the guide's job as easy as possible. The more pleasant you are to be around on the water, the harder your guide is going to work to get you on fish, share information, and show you a great time from start to finish.

Here are some things to keep in mind for your next guided trip.'

Know and share your expectations

Knowing what your expectations are, and sharing them accurately, are absolutely vital to a guided trip. Some people want to catch the biggest fish of their life. Others just want a scenic view and someone to teach them new techniques. It doesn't matter what your motivation for booking the trip is. What matters is that both you and your guide know what it is.

The reason I specify both is that it's impossible for your guide to get the right answer from you if you aren't even sure yourself. Some people like to think they enjoy fishing regardless of the catching, but at the end of the day go home bummed if they don't catch a ton. If your goal is to catch a lot of fish, be honest with yourself.

Once you've decided what it actually is that you want from the trip, explain it to your guide. They want you to have the best possible experience on your trip, so they'll cater to what you're looking for and be glad that you were clear.

Show up prepared and on time

Especially on drift boat trips, timing is crucial. Boats may be stacked end-to-end during the busy season on some rivers, and your guide will want to be on schedule. Showing up on time, or even better, a little early, shows the guide you're serious about the trip and want to be as hassle-free as possible.

In addition to showing up on time, coming prepared will be a weight lifted off your guide's shoulders. Obviously, they should let you know in advance what they'll be providing. If they have gear, flies, and lunch for you, feel free to take advantage of that!

But, if you showed up without a rain jacket and it storms, your guide probably won't be thrilled. Many guides in this case, hoping to provide the best service possible, would give you their jacket. While that's great service from the guide, it's not great behavior from a client.

Help when possible

Any time you can lift some work from your guide's shoulders, you should do so. This doesn't mean you need to break your back putting in more work than they do. This is, after all, a trip you're paying for.

Especially on shorter trips, there might not be much to do. On longer trips, though, there will be plenty to help with. If you're on a multi-day trip that involves camping, offer to help pitch tents or brew coffee in the morning.

While these things aren't necessarily expected, they're definitely appreciated. Even if they don't need your help, simply offering to do so will show your good side and make you seem like a stand-up client.

Trust them

There's absolutely nothing wrong with asking to use your own flies, rod, etc. on a trip (assuming your expectations involve using your own gear at the possible expense of more fish).

But, since most people's expectations involve catching at least some fish, if not many, trusting your guide is usually the way to go. They spend 100+ days on the water each year, which is probably more than even avid hobbyists. They know the river like the back of their hand, and probably know best.

If you ask to use your own stuff and the guide politely suggests using theirs in order to catch more fish, it's in your best interest to do so. And, if you do decide to use your own because it's important to you, make sure you don't then complain if you're not catching much.

Tip

For some people, this is an awkward topic of conversation. But, it's also a really important thing to consider when going on a guided trip.

Many people, on their first guided trip, don't realize tipping is standard. Of course, if your guide does something egregious enough to lose your tip, the same way a terrible waiter might, that's one thing. But, if your guide does his or her best to get you on fish and show you a great day, you should tip.

Expected percentages vary, especially because trips can be anything from a few hours to multiple days, and run from the low hundreds into the thousands of dollars. As a very general rule, somewhere between 10-20% is average, depending how above-and-beyond your guide goes to give you a great day.

This one is definitely in your best interest as a client, too, if you're a repeat customer with the guide. Give a good tip the first time, and the guide will remember the next time around and give you their best work.

Don't try to impress

Lots of people who have fished before tend to want to show off their skills on guided trips. While of course there's nothing wrong with putting your skills to use, a good client doesn't focus on impressing the guide.

Odds are, on a given body of water, the guide knows more than the client. There's no shame in admitting you can learn a thing or two from your guide.

When you show up for your trip, be honest about your skill level, and let the guide take it from there. Listen intently and learn. If you're all ears, instead of trying to show off, you'll come out of the trip a better angler. The guide will also appreciate that you've listened and taken their advice.

Smile!

The easiest way to be a good client on a guided trip is to show up with a good attitude. Guides who recognize that their clients are just there to have fun won't have to stress as much, and that always leads to better days on the water.

Even if the weather isn't great or the fishing is slow, try to have a positive attitude and enjoy the other aspects of the trip. This will make the trip more fun for both you and your guide. At the end of the day, at least you're fishing, and that's better than being stuck inside.